Metallic-value recoverer



()ct. 16, 1928. L$$8JW9 F. F. BERRY METALLIC VALUE RECQVERER Filed May 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l Tic 1 J 6) I c a j El El E! E] m 6 Q I Z q. 15 o o E] 14 m E] o o E E] El M E) 9 O 83 q: El E! El 3 El 0 o t Z INVENTOR. F/FU For/(5f 5073/ BY M 771 44 A TTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1928. TI88J F. F. BERRY METALLIC VALUE RECOVERER Filed May 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 j AV AV/ 2 o a o 12 14 Ar /|l M INVENTOR. 5rd frrefl 597 ATTORNEYS.

Oct, 16, 1928. I L688J19 F. F. BERRY METALLIC VALUE RECOVBRER Filed May 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I1\.IVENTOR. Fred Forresf Berry BY 7M4 M1 77% A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

uira stares FRED FORREST BERRY, 01" LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

METALLIC-VALUE RECOVEEER.

Application filed May 10,

. clay, dirt and boulders of various forms and sizes. These values are in suiiicient quantities with respect to the detritus to make separation profitable. However, many of these deposits are covered by water and are therefore difficult of access, capture and conveyance to a place convenient for separation. There are devices which have been used employing a hose or like conduit, the intake of which is placed over the portion of the deposit to be captured. A suction is created in the hose, inducing detritus and values and conveying 7 them to a place convenient forhandling and separation. These devices can only be used to suck up the surface'of the deposit. The greater part of the values reposes below the surface and even at bed rock. If the hose is directed down through the deposit, it is liable to become imbedded by the caving in and bridging of the sand, gravel, and, if clay in quantities is present in the detritus, the hose may become frozen in position so that it. cannot be dislodged. The hose must therefore be cut away and severed.

The present invention has for its primary object the provision of a suction device having means to agitate the material of the [deposit around the intake of the hose, keeping a chamber open in the deposit and preventing freezing of the hose. A more specific object of this invention is to provide a conduit line having means to simultaneously create an outblast of water around the intake of the suction line. In addition to the broader objects of this invention, there are certain details of design, whereby an efficient, easily operated 1 structure is obtained. These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a barge having an intake line and a discharge line in osi iori cit 1927. Serial No 190,368.

water and deposit being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a side View of the intake end of the recovery line on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is an axial section through the intake shown in Fig. 2; Figs. 4, 5 and .6 are views as seen on the lines correspondingly numbered in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of fragments of the intake line at a joint showing the sections disconnected; and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the suction and discharge pumps connected to the intake line, a portion of the latter being shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawng and especially Fig. 1, a body of water is ndicated by A. The bed of the ocean floor is indlcated by B. This bed comprises a stratum of granular or pulverulent material C mingled with rocks and the like, and, in the present instance, may include mineral values winch are to be later-separated. The bed rock 1s indicated by D. Selected portions of the deposit are to be raised and conveyed to a point convenient for treatment or other use. A barge E may bev suitably equipped with a power plant and pumps. Leading to the intake side of a suction pump S and connected thereto through a joint of pipe F is a pipe line K. See Fig. 8. This line is also connected to, a source of supply of water under pressure. The tailing pipe is indicated by G. It may be suitably mounted upon pontoons H which support the pipe and carry it to the mainland or other place at which the tailings are to be discharged. The construction just described is for illustrative purposes to indicate the use of the intake structure, which is hereafter described in detail. I

- Referring more particularly to the intake pipe and the head shown in Figs. 2 to 6 in'clusive, it comprises a number of sections joined together by suitable couplings. See Fig. 7. The general construction of these sections is indicated in Fig. 3. Each comprises a cylindrical wall with an inner bore or passage.

The intake head L comprises the inner passage 11 and an outershell 10. This provides for a suction passage within the tube. The blast passage preferably consists of a group of passages 12 extending through the shell. Tightly secured to the shell by any suitable means is a collar 13 preferably of metal and internally threaded to receive the threaded end of the coupling on the egtensiofi J. The pass is ta the entire surface.

the slits lt outwardly.

side of a suction or dredge pump,S, or like water elevating device. See Fig. 8. The passageways 12 are connected to the discharge side of a pump P for creating a blast. Referring to Fig. 8, the line K is shown connected to a pipe section. F, wherein the passage 11 is arranged to be connected to the intake of pump S, and the passages-12 to the discharge side of pump P.

In the head slits l l are provided opening from the blast passages 12 to the exterior through protector plates 15. The periphery of the head has multiplicity of these slits or ports distributed over substantially the A recess is formed at the mouth of a passage 11 and journalled therein is a cage 17. This cage carries impellers 18 and is held in position bya. plate 19. The plate 19 serves to retain the impeller in position with the blades thereof disposed within the cage 17. Fluid and other matter flowing through the suctionpassage 11 will'cause the impeller to be rotated. Mounted in the plate 19 and extending across the suction opening therein arepintles 20 on which are four finger members indicated by 21. These finger members may consist of a wire wrapped about the pintles and having a rearwardly extending portion adapted to be disposed in the path of the impeller blades as best shown in Fig. 3 and having forwardly extending fingers projecting outwardly between the meshes of a screen. The screen comprises a. plate 22 across the suction opening of which is a. grating 23. The screen plate 22 and the plate 19 may be secured in position, upon the head by .means of bolts 24.

The barge is anchored in. a suitable posi tion, and the intake pipe head controlled by suitable tackle is directed to. the point at which it is desired to remove and capture the deposit. The suction pump S is started and likewisethe discharge pumpP so that a very strong. blast of water is projected through the passages 12 and out through the discharge openings in the head. At the same time streams of water will be projected through This will cause an agitation of the surrounding deposit. The detritus, some water and mineral values will be sucked upwardly through the suction passage 11. There is a violent agitation of. the

' matter around the intake head, and the latter moves downwardly, digging itself into the deposit. The water issuing from the slits will prevent the deposit from closing in around thehcad, keeping a chamber open so that the intake head may be easily removed. The screen 23 will prevent entrance of bo,uld-' ers, if any lodge against the screentending to impede the entrance of material into the suction pipe, the fingers 20 which are mechanically agitated will tend to dislodge the boulders. These fingersalso act upon the generalmass of obstructive material. It will having an intake for the induction passage and adjacent thereto an outlet for the dis charge passages, mechanical fingers movably mounted at the n' outh of said intake, and means to agitate saidfingers sooas to prevent solids lodging at said intake.

2.,A. device for capturing detritus .from submerged Vdepg mits comprising a. conduit having a plurality of passages, induction means for one of said passages,- means for discharging liquid under pressure from the remainingpassages, a head for said conduit having an intake for the induction passage and adjacent thereto an outlet forthe discharge passages, mechanical fingers at the mouth of said intake, and an impeller in the mouth-of said intake to move said fingersso as to prevent solids lodging at said intake.

3. A device for capturing detritus from submerged deposits comprising a conduit having a plurality of passages, induction means for one of said passages, means for discharging liquid under pressure from the rem ining passages, a head for saidconduit having an intake for the induction passage and'adjacent thereto an outletlfo'r the discharge passages, mechanical fingers mounted'to be oscillated transversely across the mouthgof said intake, and an impellerdisposed at said intake so as to engage and agitate said fingers.

4. A device for capturing detritus from submerged deposits comprising a conduit having a plurality of passages, induction means for oneofsaid passages, means for tov prevent solids lodging at said intake.

device for capturing detritus from submerged deposits comprismg a conduit havlng a plurality of passages, induction means for one of said passages, means for discharging liquid under-pressure from the rema-iningpassages, a head for said conduit includin a mouth for the intake and mouths for the discharge passages adjacent thereto, openings in said head communicating with thedis'charge passages for directing liquid "outwardly around said conduit, mechanical fingers at the mouth of said intake, and an impeller in the mouth of said intake to move said fingers so as to prevent solids lodging at said intake.

6. A device for capturing detritus from submerged deposits comprising a conduit having a plurality of passages, induction means for one of said passages, means for discharging liquid under pressure from the remaining passages, a head for said conduit including a mouth for the intake and mouths for the discharge passages adjacent thereto,

openings in said head communicating with the discharge passages for directing liquid outwardly around said conduit, mechanical fingers at the mouth of said intake, mounted to be oscillated transversely across the mouth of said intake, and an impeller disposed at said intake so as to engage and oscillate said fingers.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of April, 1927.

FRED FORREST BERRY. 

